Brush fire near Wrightwood forces evacuations

Map shows approximate location of Wrightwood in the Angeles National Forest, where the Sharp fire broke out Thursday afternoon.

Map shows approximate location of Wrightwood in the Angeles National Forest, where the Sharp fire broke out Thursday afternoon. (Google Maps)

Ari Bloomekatz

A brush fire broke out Thursday afternoon near Wrightwood in the Angeles National Forest, and firefighters were battling the flames in steep terrain while some neighborhoods were being evacuated.

Named the Sharp fire, the blaze was reported at 12:13 p.m. About 100 people were on scene by 5:30 p.m. to fight the blaze and were being helped by air tankers and helicopters, said John Wagner, a spokesman for Angeles National Forest.

"We have, at this point, no containment," Wagner said, adding that the blaze had grown to more than 30 acres.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department issued a statement saying mandatory evacuations had been ordered for Mojave Scenic and East Canyon drives south from Lone Pine Canyon Road to Buckthorn, Slippery Elm and Mahogany roads.

A Red Cross evacuation center has been set up at Serrano High School in Phelan.